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I would like to trigger your attention to the stem cell
companies, their business practices, their misleading
patient information, by presenting, in brief the situation
in Greece.
Every private or state hospital, especially the Obstetrics
Department, is filled with tens of their representatives
handing brochures, DVDs, talking directly to parents.
Their number increased 300% in only 5 years.
Brochures and DVDs contain valid stem cell research results,
on patients. Very limited , understandably. Oral information
provided, however, as reported to me by future parents, is
misleading: all leukemias will certainly be cured, all
problematic solid organs will be replaced, new retinas will
be readily available, even new teeth will keep on growing
until their child's third age, should they decide to store
stem cells!
The fee is substantial, storing occurs in various European
Countries including the U.K., and there exists a small “we
assume no responsibility” sentence hidden somewhere in the
30 page long contract.
We should not trust the companies to inform patients
directly.
We should not even trust private clinics, hospitals or even
medical doctors, since they receive a 10% reward for
collecting the blood containing stem cells!
An independent, regulated, scientific, possibly European
institution should assume this responsibility.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
09 July 2010
Stavros Saripanidis
Consultant in Obstetrics and Gyneacology in Greece.
Dangerous stem cell company practices.
I would like to trigger your attention to the stem cell
companies, their business practices, their misleading
patient information, by presenting, in brief the situation
in Greece.
Every private or state hospital, especially the Obstetrics
Department, is filled with tens of their representatives
handing brochures, DVDs, talking directly to parents.
Their number increased 300% in only 5 years.
Brochures and DVDs contain valid stem cell research results,
on patients. Very limited , understandably. Oral information
provided, however, as reported to me by future parents, is
misleading: all leukemias will certainly be cured, all
problematic solid organs will be replaced, new retinas will
be readily available, even new teeth will keep on growing
until their child's third age, should they decide to store
stem cells!
The fee is substantial, storing occurs in various European
Countries including the U.K., and there exists a small “we
assume no responsibility” sentence hidden somewhere in the
30 page long contract.
We should not trust the companies to inform patients
directly.
We should not even trust private clinics, hospitals or even
medical doctors, since they receive a 10% reward for
collecting the blood containing stem cells!
An independent, regulated, scientific, possibly European
institution should assume this responsibility.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests